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Albany commissioners and utilities debate using stormwater funds to convert 3 Oaks Pond to park
Summary
Staff proposed grading and piping 3 Oaks Pond to repurpose a drained detention basin as a small community park; several board members said the work looks recreational and asked that stormwater priorities (Valencia, South Madison) be addressed first, and staff pulled the item for reprioritization.
City staff briefed the Albany Utility Board on Oct. 9 about plans to grade and pipe 3 Oaks Pond (Pheasant & Meadowlark) so the drained 1.5‑acre site could be repurposed as a neighborhood green space. Lanier Engineering prepared a conceptual design after the city diverted upstream flows to Lake Cornelia, staff said.
"3 Oaks Pond is located at Pheasant And Meadowlark. It's about an acre and a half ... in the past it's actually had some history of flooding," the presenter told the board and said the design would extend pipe and fill ditches to create a smooth community area. Staff framed the briefing as an early step before seeking stormwater funds.
Several board members objected to using stormwater dollars for what they characterized as recreation. The chair and multiple members pointed to unresolved flooding problems in Valencia and South Madison and urged that those drainage projects receive priority. One member said, "this is a recreation project ... I think that's the way if, mister Warrington wants to have a park ... this is not, in my opinion, a stormwater project."
Given the concerns, staff agreed to pull the item and return with a prioritized list of stormwater projects and a funding availability report for the board and city commission to review before any stormwater‑fund expenditure on the site.
